GWSS 1001 - Gender, Power, and Everday Life

Gulu is home to the Acholi tribe who is under direct attack and constant fear of the rebel army, the Lord’s Resistance Army. In this small town hundreds upon hundreds of boys and girls, ages ranging from about 5 years of age to 12 years, travel here to find shelter to sleep at night in local hospitals, churches, and bus verandas. These young, innocent victims leave their families at night and travel to a more populated area because they are targeted by the LRA. The children are big enough to carry guns and young enough to brainwash, so the LRA abducts the children, influencing them, and convincing them to fight for their cause.

Families are forced out of their home by the Ugandan government and into Internally Displaced Camps where they are forced to live in extremely harsh conditions in order to keep safe from the LRA. The 21-year long Civil War has been kept a secret for so long and the Invisible Children aim at raising awareness about the war and increase efforts of creating peace treaties and getting the U.S government more involved in spreading the word in order to aid these displaced people.

The event was, as you could probably guess, to show Americans what it would be like to live in a displacement camp for 24 hours. All I brought with me was a sleeping bag, pillow, saltine crackers, a liter of water, and a few cardboard boxes for shelter. People all across the Soldier Field parking lot built temporary cardboard tents and homes to sleep in for the night and the Invisible Children crew of Chicago put on a few different events, including screening of the Invisible Children video, a simulation of how Ugandan people can get food and water (including having the women stand in line to get some water for our group and men standing in line for crackers to provide for the women), writing letters to government officials, 21 minutes of silence in honor of those affected by the 21-year long war, and a guest speaker, which was what I chose to write about for my Activist Event.

I felt lucky and excited when Jolie, the lady who took a stand and went against societal standards to share with the filmmakers the story of the civil war in Uganda, came on the stage to speak.

Jolie began her speech with sharing her gratitude for the Invisible Children and for everyone who showed up to the Displace Me event in support of the IC efforts. Jolie is a mother of three who has not seen peace in her life since she was 18 years old. She spoke to us about how most people in the displacement camps in Uganda have never seen peace; this is their way of life and this is all that they know. She explained how women often have to walk three miles every day just to find water for her family and can only obtain one liter at a time. In the Invisible Children documentary movie, the boys interview and talk with some Ugandan children about the war. One boy said that he had been abducted by the rebels and escaped and now can not show his face in public because the LRA is searching for him by name. The children pleaded for the filmmakers to show Americans the footage of their time in Uganda because they knew that there is nothing that anyone can do over there, but that Americans would be able to help. Jolie reiterated exactly that, but she was not afraid to speak out. When she goes back to Uganda, she is going to to be targeted by the rebels because she is seeking help. The main slogan for the event was “Every War Has an End.” Jolie played off of that, and said “It is true. Every war has an end. But the question is when will it end? It is not fair that so many people will never see peace, will never know what it is like to be free and young and actually be able to act like children.”

I feel like Jolie played such a huge part in making the Invisible Children happen. The campaign has been centered around raising public awareness in the U.S. in an attempt to spur youth into action and to change the current policies of both the American and Ugandan governments, who have largely let the conflict fester. 9 months pregnant, she still led the American filmmakers to a secret that no one dare to speak of. She knew that they would be able to make a change. And because of her, so much money and awareness has been raised for the cause and already, so many lives have been saved and changed. It was an honor to hear her speak in Chicago on Saturday and I encourage you all to look into the cause. Visit Invisiblechildren.com for more information!